Go Back Japanese Butterbur

Posted: May 7, 2019 at 4:06 PM
Petasites japonicus 'Giganteus'

    Plant Type: Perennials

    Japanese butterbur is a member of the daisy family. It produces blooms in late winter, before any foliage appears. Clusters of yellow-green blooms, more bizarre than beautiful, push from the soil in March like some odd botanical snow-cone. The plants are dioecious so these vegetatively propagated plants won't make seeds without a member of the opposite sex present. It's good that the Japanese butterbur does not produce seeds, because this is a plant that spreads well enough without them. It typically grows in moist alluvial sites in full sun or partial shade. It produces a network of pencil-sized rhizomes that spread in all directions from the original plant. It begins to colonize an extensive area after its second or third year.

    Currently not available for online purchase.

    Growing & Maintenance Tips:

    Because of its tendency to run, the Japanese butterbur should be planted where its spread can be closely monitored, or where it can be allowed to roam more or less at will.

    Flower Color

    Yellow-green

    Foliage Color

    Green

    Plant Spread

    3-4'

    Good Companions

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    Plant Height

    3-4'

    Scape Height

    —

    Hardness Zone

    5-9

    Soil Moisture

    Moist

    Characteristics & Attributes

    Attributes

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    Bloom Time

    Early Spring

    Critter Resistance

    —

    Exposure

    Part to full sun

    Growth Rate

    —

    Seasonal Interests

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